Logging conveyer



June 1 1926.

J. E. MONGRAIN LOGGING Convmgm Filed April 16, 1924 Patented June 1, 192g JAMES rrtonennm, on SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

mean-re converse.

Application rn'a April 16, 192

My invention relates to logging appliances and more particularly to a novel form of conveyer which may be termed a logging conveyer, the main objectof which is to considerably reduce the cost of logging opera tions. My long experience with difierent logging appliances has enabled me to perfect such a device, which is far superior to the present systems of chutes and flumes, in that,

7 it can be taken up, moved, and set up again in another place, while with the present system of chutes and fiumes, after all the logs have been taken out, they are left in place,

' and go to waste, and new ones built where the next batch of logs will be out. While the cost of my log conveyer will probably be slightly over that of a chute or fiume, its cost of operation will be much less, and will carry at least five times as many logs in a given time, and will last for years.

The steam donkeys used to operate the )resent chutes, will be used to operate my log conveyer. p

. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of two sections of the conveyer connected together. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one section. Fig. 3 is a side elevationcorresponding to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are detailed views of the cross members, and Fig. 6 a detailed view of a ratchet wheel.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Fig. 1 represents a side view of two sections of the conveyer which are set upon wooden foundations 1, 1, 1.

In Fig. 2, and Fig. 3, 2 represents cast iron flanged wheels which are mounted solid on axles 3, 3, upon these two sets of flanged wheels are mounted two endless steel cables 4, 4, one on each side as in Fig. 2, and across these steel cables 4, 4, are mounted cross members or carriers 5, a detailed view of one of which is shown in Fig. 4, and Fig. 5. This structure, mounted on its wooden foundation 1, 1, constitutes one section of the log conveyer which can be built say from twenty-five feet to fifty, or one hundred feet long as needed. The sections are connected together as shown in Fig. 1.

The power is transmitted to the conveyer by means of an endless steel cable 6 which Serial No. 707,005.

in the accompanying drawings would run 1n the direction indicated by the arrow on sheave 17.

The present need would require such a log conveyer to be about one mile long, which would be composed of sections of about one hundred feet long each. The fact that the logs are always taken down hill makes this log conveyer possible and practical. A steam donkey placed at the foot of the conveyer furnishes the power.

In Fig. 1, the end of the conveyer marked 8, represents the top or upper end of the conveyer, where the logs are loaded on the conveyer. When in operation, as soon as each log is rolled on the conveyer, it starts on its downward journey, at the foot or lower end of the conveyer the logs run over a platform or rollers, and when clear of the conveyer are rolled ofi' into the pond or river, as the case may be.

The cross members or carriers 5 are each made with a central hinged joint 9, and also provided with a slot 10 to form gravity actuated grippers, Fig. 4, into which the driving cable 6 enters as shown at 11, Fig. 2.

The cross members 5, are fastened to or clamped on the conveyer cables 4, 4, as shown at 12 by means of bolts 13, Fig. 4. In operation, as soon as the weight of the log comes on the cross members 5, the slot 10, will be made to tighten on and grip the driving cable 6 and the cable therefore pulls the conveyer and its load along with it. In order to release the grip of the carrier slot on the driving cable there is a ratchet wheel 14, Fig. 2, (also shown in Fig. 6), mounted on each axle of every section. Each cross member 5 is in turn provided with a projecting pin or boss 15, as shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. 4. When a cross member 5 carrying its share of theload comes directly over the center of theflanged wheels 2, 2, Fig. 2, the pin or boss 15 engages in one of the notches of the ratchet wheel 14 and rides upwardly and over the ratchet wheel, thereby raising the center of the hinged cross member enough to cause the-slot 10, to open slightly and release its grip on the driving cable, as shown at 18, Fig. 2. The gripping action occurs at the other end of the section. The

pm 15 engages with ratchet wheel, raises to tighten again on the driving cable, and so on with each cross member in turn.

The cross members return underneath each section as shown at 16. The driving cable also returns underneath and over sheave 17, Fig. 3.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. The combination with a pair of spaced conveyer cables and a series 01" hinged carriers fastened thereon, of an intermediate driving cable, gravity actuated gripping devices on the carrlers to engage the driving cable, and automatic means for releasing the gripping devices.

2. The combination with supporting wheels and a pair of endless, conveyer cables thereon, of a driving cable, hinged carriers secured to the conveyer cables and fashioned with gripping slots for engagement with said driving cable, a pin on each hinged carrier, and spaced ratchet wheels for co-action with said pins for opening the gripping carriers.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

JAMES E. MONGRAIN. 

